The present study focuses on the relationship between undergraduate student involvement in extracurricular activities and levels of self-esteem, academic performance, and aggression. Previous studies involving high school and college students (Hamachek, 1995; Monashkin, 1953) reported a positive correlation between participation in social activities and increased self-esteem and school performance. Membership in clubs and athletic groups increases feelings of inclusion, thus diminishing aggressive behavior (Leary, Schreindorfer, & Haupt, 1995). In the present study, 113 undergraduate students at a medium-sized midwestern university were given the Texas Social Behavioral Inventory (Helmreich & Stapp, 1974) and the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (Buss & Perry, 1992). The scores on these inventories were related to the students’ extracurricular involvement and their cumulative grade point averages (GPAs). Women involved in social clubs had significantly higher self-esteem scores than women involved in athletics and women not involved in activities. Men participating in social clubs had significantly higher hostile aggression scores than did women involved in social clubs. Thus, for women, self-esteem is positively related to extracurricular activities, whereas for men, the relationship is less clear.

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